STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Roommate's dog is rebelling with bathroom habits

Kelly · Hermes

Well, scolding him and rubbing his nose in it after the fact won't do anything. If you catch him in the act, yell at him *then*. If you see it later and yell and rub his nose in it, he's not going to understand what you're doing or why you're yelling at him. Especially don't rub his nose in it - he could get an infection in his nose and/or mouth. If you see it later, there's not much you can do except clean it up and keep your door closed so he can't pee on your bed.

Could she crate him while she's at work, so he doesn't have an opportunity to make a mess when no one is watching him?

member · Hermes

I agree w/everything ttara said. Punishing and scolding a dog after the fact is completely pointless. If you don't catch him doing it in the act, forget scolding him - that's why he doesn't get it - he has no idea what he's being yelled at for. Also, IMO, you shouldn't rub a dog's nose in crap - this is just mean and unneccessary, especially after the fact.
I also agree w/ttara - can't your roommate crate the dog during the day? If he hasn't been housebroken, she needs to work on that w/him. If it's a matter of him marking or not listening, it sounds like he needs some obedience training.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Hm Maybe I have the improper use of the term "rub his nose in it" - I didn't mean it literally, of course she doesnt rub feces on his nose. I meant she shows him it so that he sees it and can smell what she's talking about.

Its impossible to catch him in the act bc when he does it its when I'm busy doing something, he doesn't do it when I'm standing there.

She usually keeps him in her room when she's at work but on the weekend is when it happens or it happened when I showered and left my door slightly open, I guess he welcomed himself in. I guess I should just ask her to keep him in her room at all times? It is a shame bc I really like playing with him and having fun and I try to keep all the doors closed but the 1 time out of 50 that I leave something open or turn my back is when he does it.

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

Showing the dog AFTER the fact doesn't do anything. Dogs (and cats for that matter) do not make any connection between what you're showing them and what you're scolding them about. They ONLY reason they act guilty when you do that is because they are reading YOUR body language, not because they know what they're being scolded for. The only time you can scold them is if you catch them in the act.

For now, keep your bedroom door and the bathroom door closed. The dog obviously is having some behaviour issues, and is probably very upset by the introduction of a new person into the household. I don't recommend crating the dog all day while she's at work, because that's too long. But it could be shut into its mom's room, or put outside.

member · Hermes

Well, if you can't catch him in the act, he simply can't be scolded. She can try all she wants, but it's not going to help because he'll have no idea what he's in trouble for. I didn't think she was actually rubbing his nose in the poop, but I still disagree w/that tactic - even more so after the fact.

I would just make sure you keep your bedroom/bathroom doors closed at all times if you aren't there. I also agree that he may be doing this because you're newer to the household. When a dog's environment changes it can disrupt their behavior.

Metric · Gucci

Could you get a baby gate to put across your doorway? That way your door can stay open but the dog (hopefully) won't ge able to jump it and get into your room. Hopefully you could convince your roommate to pay for it wink

Also she might have to revert back to puppy training mode and take him outside every hour so that he doesn't have an excuse to go in the house.

Suasoria · Chanel

Like Metric said, I'm wondering why the dog is going in the house at all. Doesn't your roommate take him for walks?

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

She trained him to go on a wee wee pad in her bathroom - he is like 6 lbs so its not much and his mom is gone at work like 10 hours and theres no one home to walk him so I'm assuming thats why she did it that way.

I guess I will just have to be more dilligent about keeping everything closed. I didn't realize that showing after the fact wouldn't affect his behavior. See this is why I don't have a dog!

orlando · Nine West

Most likely he is trying to establish his territory in your room. That's most likely why he's peeing at the corner of the bed. Until he's comfortable in his place in the pecking order, keep your door shut.